Jury Focus Groups & Mock Trials

Jury focus groups and mock trials can provide vital insight into the strengths and weaknesses of an attorney's case. They help strengthen strategies and arguments, while identifying pitfalls and weaknesses. With the aid of a jury focus group or mock trial, attorneys are able to find out what juries see as the important issue, not what they think the important issues are. Regardless of the size of the case, attorneys can utilize jury focus groups and mock trials in various ways to gain invaluable information about their cases.

Jury Focus Groups

Jury focus groups are similar to the test marketing of products that companies conduct before they introduce them commercially. In the legal field, they allow you research and analyze your target audience (the prospective jury) so that you can design your product (your case) accordingly. Jury focus groups allow you to access the case and discover its primary juror-defined issues, plan the case presentation, develop the trial theme, and help direct the ultimate outcome of the trial.

Mock Trials

Mock trials are exactly what you think they are: the mock presentation of a trial. They allow attorneys to practice their opening statements, direct-examinations, cross-examinations, and closing statements, all in front of a live audience, and gain valuable feedback from the prospective jury. Mock trials also allow attorneys to determine whether or not their clients, exhibits, and demonstratives are well received by a jury. With the aid of mock trials, attorneys are able to fine-tune their cases, giving them a distinct advantage over the other side.

At Thomas & Thomas, we help ensure you get the most out of your jury focus group or mock trial. Below are several benefits of having our firm host your next focus group or mock trial:

Neutral, third-party location to limit any potential bias of the participants;

Select from an extensive list of prospective participants so you can tailor your jury to the needs of each particular case;

Confidentiality agreements created by Thomas & Thomas for each participant to preserve the integrity of your case;

Use of high-definition television, ELMO document cameras and more for the presentation of materials;

The ability to observe, in real-time, the session from an adjoining room; and

Professionally videotaped for future playback and review.

Don't think your case warrants the use of a jury focus group or mock trial? Try combining several cases into one session. Devote 15, 30 or 60 minutes to each case and divide the cost across each one.